1. Directional Terms and Body Cavities
Anatomy & Physiology
Directional Terms and Body Cavities

2. Surface Anatomy Anatomical Position When laying down
standing
feet together with toes up
hands at sides palms facing forward
When laying down
face down = prone
face up = supine
Left and Right are from subjects perspective

3. Anatomical Planes Anatomical Planes are: a description of self-space
space immediately surrounding body that is available for movement

4. Anatomy Directional Terms
Rt and Lf are from specimen perspective
Anterior
the front, before
Ventral
belly side
equivalent to anterior when referring to humans
Posterior (dorsal)
the back, behind
Superior (cranial)
above, toward top
Inferior (caudal)
below, toward feet

5. More Anatomy Directional Terms
Medial
toward midsagittal plane
Lateral
away from midsagittal plane
Proximal
toward attached body part
the elbow is proximal to the hand
Distal
away from attached body part
the fingers are distal to the shoulder
Superficial
close to the body surface
Deep
farther from body surface

6. Even More Anatomy Directional Terms
Visceral
Parietal
Medullary
Cortical

7. Why do we need to know about self- space?
Defines the terms of movement
directional
joint movement
muscle movement
Using formal terms allows us to use fewer words when trying to describe movement
teaching (educational)
medicine (x-ray fims, therapy)
research (biomechanics)

8. Anatomical Planes Frontal Plane Sagittal Plane Transverse Plane
aka: coronal plane
vertical plane from head to feet
divides body into front and back halves
Sagittal Plane
divides body into left and right halves
Transverse Plane
horizontal plane
divides body into top and bottom halves

9. Anatomical Movement Terms
adduction (toward)
abduction (away from)
flexion (bend)
extension (lengthen)

10. More Anatomical Movement Terms
rotation
twisting
medial and lateral
Suppination
rotate so palm faces up or forward
Pronation
rotate to palm faces down or backwards

11. Anterior Body Landmarks

12. Posterior Body Landmarks

13. Body Systems Integumentary System skin, hair, nails
protects from disease
storage for fatty tissue
produces vitamin D
sensory input
body temperature

14. Body Systems Endocrine System glands
regulates growth, metabolism, and reproduction

15. Body Systems Skeletal System bones, cartilage, ligaments, joints
protection, movement, blood production, storage

16. Body Systems Muscular System
movement, heat, circulation, communication

17. Body Systems Nervous System sensory reception and response homeostasis
life functions

18. Body Systems Cardiovascular System respiration waste removal
nutrient distribution

19. Body Systems Lymphatic System
to collect and return interstitial fluid including plasma protein to the blood
Defense
to absorb lipids

20. Body Systems
Digestive System
nutrition
waste

21. Body Systems Respitory System Gas exchange communication
O2 in ☞ CO2 out
communication

22. Body Systems Urinary System filters waste products from blood
regulation of blood pH, ions, and volume (RBC’s)
produce and secrete certain hormones

23. Body Systems Male and Female Reproductive Systems
Offspring production ☞